Sacha Baron Cohen as 'the Dictator' during a press conference at The Waldorf=Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Getty Images)

(Newser)
–
Either Robert Mugabe has taken a sudden interest in Hollywood, or Sacha Baron Cohen's up to something. Washington media and lobbyists have been receiving invitations to Baron Cohen's new film, The Dictator—supposedly from the leader of Zimbabwe himself. "President Robert Mugabe and the Ministry of Education, Sport, Art, and Culture invite you to the Premiere of The Dictator," they read, saying the event will take place at Mugabe's residence. The Washington Post called the number provided, and it is, in fact, the one for Zimbabwe's art ministry. But officials weren't aware of any screening; likewise, the Zimbabwean embassy reported knowing "nothing of this event."

If you have to rely on this kind of stupidity to drum up interest in your movie, then I'm thinking the movie must be a real stinker. Cohen's characters usually stop being funny after about five minutes.